At least 120 people have been killed in a powerful earthquake that devastated a cluster of mountain communities in central Italy on Wednesday.

More victims are feared trapped under rubble and thousands have been left homeless.

Voted last year one of Italy’s most beautiful historic towns, Amatrice was flattened by the 6.2 magnitude quake.

Aerial photographs showed whole areas of the town in ruins. Many of those killed or missing were visitors.

“It’s all young people here, it’s holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that,” said Amatrice resident Giancarlo, sitting in the road wearing just his underwear.

“It’s terrible, I’m 65-years-old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe,” he said.

The last major quake to hit the country struck the central city of L’Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people.

The national Civil Protection Department said some survivors would be put up elsewhere in central Italy, while others would be housed in tents that were being dispatched to the area.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced the death toll had risen to 120.

“No one will be left alone, no family, no community, no neighbourhood. We must get down to work .. to restore hope to this area which has been so badly hit,” he said earlier in a brief televised address.

The US Geological Survey said Wednesday’s quake struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia.

Some 150 aftershocks were reported in the 12 hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5.